Serbs again break cordon, man injured

A Kosovo Serb representative in Brdjani was wounded today during a protest in that area of northern Kosovska Mitrovica. An EULEX police tear gas cartridge hit Sinisa Lazic in the head. He is now being treated for his injuries. Once again, the EU mission police was using stun grenades against the protesting Serbs. Serbs again break cordon, man injured Some time after 11:00 CET, the protesters again broke the Kosovo police, KPS, cordon, and approached the so-called yellow line of separation. EULEX police intervened afterwards. The tenth day of protests ended before noon this Monday. The protests have been going on for over a week regarding the restoration of five homes in the community belonging to ethnic Albanians, with demonstrators calling for Serbs to be enabled to return to their homes in Kosovo first. International forces used tear gas and stun grenades over the last several days of protests to stop the Serbs from getting any closer to the houses that are being rebuilt. The Albanian homes are being renovated by the Kosovo Albanian government in Pristina and the municipality of the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica. Serbs are insisting that the restoration can only be done if Serbs are allowed to return to their homes in the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica and other parts of Kosovo at the same time. Serbs in Brdjani are asking for reciprocity in the return of people to their homes and says they will continue with protests until there is an agreement on the rebuilding of homes in the northern part of the town. They claim that the Albanians are renovating the homes in the so-called yellow zone of separation, which was established in 2000. Members of the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, police are located in this zone. One person was lightly injured last week in the protests when a stun grenade detonated. EULEX stated that the international police was forced to use the tear gas stun grenades in order to get the protesters away and stop them from breaking through police lines. The mission claims that they are working as support for the Kosovo police, KPS, and NATO led forces, KFOR, with the goal of maintaining public order and stopping a further escalation of the violence. It has been reported that EULEX is calling on both Serbs and Albanians to refrain from violence and to begin negotiations and dialogue in order to find a solution. EULEX confirmed that it would be ready to react to any potential threats to the public order and law in the coming protests. Brdjani last week (FoNet)

Serbs again break cordon, man injured

Some time after 11:00 CET, the protesters again broke the Kosovo police, KPS, cordon, and approached the so-called yellow line of separation. EULEX police intervened afterwards.

The tenth day of protests ended before noon this Monday.

The protests have been going on for over a week regarding the restoration of five homes in the community belonging to ethnic Albanians, with demonstrators calling for Serbs to be enabled to return to their homes in Kosovo first.

International forces used tear gas and stun grenades over the last several days of protests to stop the Serbs from getting any closer to the houses that are being rebuilt.

The Albanian homes are being renovated by the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština and the municipality of the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica.

Serbs are insisting that the restoration can only be done if Serbs are allowed to return to their homes in the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica and other parts of Kosovo at the same time.

Serbs in Brđani are asking for reciprocity in the return of people to their homes and says they will continue with protests until there is an agreement on the rebuilding of homes in the northern part of the town.

They claim that the Albanians are renovating the homes in the so-called yellow zone of separation, which was established in 2000.

Members of the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, police are located in this zone.

One person was lightly injured last week in the protests when a stun grenade detonated.

EULEX stated that the international police was forced to use the tear gas stun grenades in order to get the protesters away and stop them from breaking through police lines.

The mission claims that they are working as support for the Kosovo police, KPS, and NATO led forces, KFOR, with the goal of maintaining public order and stopping a further escalation of the violence.

It has been reported that EULEX is calling on both Serbs and Albanians to refrain from violence and to begin negotiations and dialogue in order to find a solution.

EULEX confirmed that it would be ready to react to any potential threats to the public order and law in the coming protests.